The Cover Letter
(from www.akcis.org)
A good cover letter has three sections: the introduction, middle, and ending. Normally, each section is limited to one brief paragraph. There are several options of topics you might include in each paragraph. Choose what works best for you and the employer you are writing to. The most important point to get across in the introduction (first paragraph) is your reason for writing. Refer to any previous contact you have had with the employer. Another option is to refer to your research about the company. For example, the mission of the organization may be something you wish to promote or help to further. A third option is to include your objective if you did not put one in your resume. You can tie your objective to your reason for applying. Since an objective can list two or three skills, it is a good way to highlight what you will write in the next paragraph(s). Similar to your resume, you want your cover letter to be concise. Choose carefully what topics to include. The middle (second paragraph) covers your main qualifications and accomplishments, and the reasons you are interested in the job. Target your letter to the specific job you are applying for. Show a genuine interest in the job and the company. Concentrate on two or three of your qualifications that will increase your chances of being remembered. You can elaborate on the rest of your accomplishments if you're granted an interview. If you used your objective in the first paragraph and mentioned two or three skills you have, highlight those skills in the second paragraph. Another option is to use two or three skills the employer has listed on the job description. For each skill, tell a brief (one sentence) story about where you used it and how it could be helpful to the employer or related to the job you are applying for. The ending (last paragraph) is a request for an interview. One option is to state or repeat your interest in the job. Another option is to let the employer know some dates when you will be in town (if you don't live in the city where the employer is located). You could be direct and use a statement such as, "I will call you next week to see about setting a time to discuss this position and how my skills will help you meet your goals." Whether you mention that you will call the employer in your letter or not, it is important to follow up your letter with a phone call. You could ask if they received your application packet, or to see where they are in the hiring process. Calling and expressing your interest helps you know where you are in the waiting process. Pay close attention to grammar and spelling. Spell checks don't always know how you want to spell a word. Have a friend or two proof each cover letter. Also, look for "I" statements in your resume. Try to move away from focusing on yourself and move toward focusing on the company that you are applying to. Give your letter a businesslike appearance. Print or type it on the same high-quality bond paper as your resume; don't have erasures. Use wide margins and center the letter on the page so there is as much blank space above the top line (the date) as there is below the bottom line (the telephone number). Remember to sign your name above your typed name. Make sure that your envelope is typed, not handwritten, matching the professional look of your resume. You might decide to use a large manila envelope to send your application package, so there are no folds or creases on your material.